Snapdragon

Snapdragon, called “Snap,” narrates as she rides her bike to the town witch’s house. There are rumors the witch eats roadkill and pets. Though Snap thinks the witch is “just an old loony” (2), her dog Good Boy, “G.B.” is lost, so she wants to be sure. Inside, she sees G.B. bandaged and missing a leg. The witch appears behind Snap saying that she ate G.B.’s arm. Snap calls her a liar, and the witch says she’s right. Snap thanks her and leaves.

The next day at school, some kids play with a dead possum they think is full of maggots. When Snap stops them, they push her into the carcass and tease her about eating it. Only one of the kids, later revealed to be Lulu, stops to check if Snap is okay, but Snap hisses and runs off holding something in her shirt.

Snap goes back to the witch because the possum hadn’t had maggots, but baby possums. Snap thinks the witch can help, since she helped G.B. The witch introduces herself as Jacks. Jacks makes Snap a deal: She’ll keep the possums at her house if Snap takes care of them and helps her with Jacks’s work.